Category: Articles

The Path to Madness and Heartbreak: Letting Go of 2015

Posted on by RJ Allen

The 2015 Women’s World Cup is one of the most exciting sporting events we’ve ever watched. It had drama, emotional release of all those years of waiting, and is still the most-watched soccer game for the US. It was the very best result the US could have hoped for.

Even now if the first few chords of Rihanna’s “American Oxygen” came on, the power of memory would transport many back to those Canadian fields where America broke a 16-year drought that felt like a lifetime of frustration.

And now it’s time we let it go.

As much as it was important and brought forth a new wave of excitement for the USWNT itself and for women’s soccer as a whole, we have to step away from the shadow it casts and move down the road. 

We see it all the time in the suggestions both fans and media make toward the roster. It’s in the small details people hold as fact that haven’t been true in two years. Things have shifted and it’s time we face the facts. The team of now is no longer the team of then, and trying to fix this team with those players only leads to madness and heartbreak.

Letting Go of Important Players

It’s never easy to say goodbye to the players who were key to big moments. No matter how much the program needs to grow past who they were and who they are now, there is always a bittersweet taste left in doing so.

The last two years have changed the very core of who this team is. They are no longer the outstanding defensive team that matched the record for minutes played without allowing a goal at the World Cup. They no longer have a goalkeeper and backline that are unyielding in the face of the world’s best attacking players.

They are above average in the world in terms of the defense but no longer sit at the very top. They have changed into a hyper-attacking style of defense that Ellis has used to start, and in some cases equally participate in, the attack in a way they did much less of in 2015. In this system, we’re going to see more attacking players converted rather than defensive players. It leads to the kind of high risk, high reward play that O’Hara and Short have shown us Ellis is comfortable with, even as the rest of us find ourselves squirming from play-to-play.

The game played in 2017 doesn’t put as much value on the “defend first, attack second” outside backs of years past. North Carolina, Sky Blue, Chicago all have defenders in the USWNT’s usual rotation of players, and all use an attacking style of outside back, either as a result of, or because Ellis is seeing how well it works and using those players in a similar way herself.

In talking about letting go of players, we have to talk about the two that seem to be the hardest to give up.

We have to talk about Ali Krieger and Hope Solo.

I’ve written about my thoughts on Krieger and her quest for 100 caps. She is as deserving as anyone to hit the milestone, but 2017 Krieger is no longer 2015 Krieger.  And 2017 Krieger isn’t a good enough outside back to make it into the Starting XI over O’Hara or Short or Smith. And when building a team for the future, Krieger isn’t who you pick over some of the players making their way onto this team. Screaming into the void about how Ali Krieger would solve this, that, and the other thing is just screaming for the honor of defending her honor at this point.

Krieger is likely to make the switch to centerback permanent going forward. As outside backs get older some are able to find a second life in central defense. Some get an extra few years making the swap and at club-level Krieger is surely good enough to keep playing as a centerback. Maybe even as an outside back.

But for the USWNT? She’s not better than O’Hara or Short in the system they want to play. She doesn’t have the speed to get back, cut players off and keep the fastest forwards at bay anymore. She can mentally make the runs but defenders, and outside backs even more so, slow down as they age. And Krieger isn’t immune to Father Time.

As sad as many find it, myself included, calling Krieger up and starting her at right back simply are no longer options going forward as the team prepares for France 2019. And neither is calling in Hope Solo.

As much as many of us long for the days when Solo seemed ten feet tall and bulletproof in goal, those days are gone. She has had two major shoulder surgeries and as far as we know from the second, she hasn’t been medically cleared to dive on her shoulder yet, much less fully train with any team. Goalkeepers do have a habit of being able to outlast field players but it’s time to accept that Alyssa Naeher is the new Number One. As much as Solo might tease on social media about a comeback to club, a comeback to country is a bridge she and USSF have both burned down.

Moving past Solo was going to happen sooner or later. She wasn’t going to wear the #1 for the US for more than another cycle, and that was if she was able to come back at all from her latest surgery. Add on top the issues she has with the federation and the issues the federation has with her, and as messy as the break up was, it was always going to happen sooner rather than later. 

At this point, we have to want them to move away from her. As much as Solo has given to the USWNT she has managed to dig herself into a hole with breathtaking efficiency.

To paraphrase a popular song, Solo and USSF are never, ever, ever getting back together.

Remembering Without Idealizing

It is possible to both remember fondly the team that won the 2015 World Cup and understand the current state of the USWNT. It is possible to understand that it won’t be helped by either bringing those same players back in or reverting to the style that won those games. As much as Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd aided in 2015 win, in the world of 2017 we can do better in those positions and we must in order to keep up with the rest of the world.

Carli Lloyd played 16 minutes of the most out-of-her-mind soccer that has ever been played. And it’s possible to remember how wonderful those three goals were without over-compensating for her as an overall player, and her in the current women’s soccer environment. She is not good enough to start for the USWNT anymore. And while that is a hard pill for some to take it is a face we’ve seen each time she isn’t in the XI for the USWNT. They play better without her reorienting the attacking formation around herself. 

Morgan Brian gets this treatment all the time. “She was an amazing attacking midfielder in college” someone cries into the void. And she was.

But she isn’t that player for the USWNT, and with her injury history, there is a chance she won’t be one of the 23 players on the roster for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. And that sucks, but it’s reality. And as much as soccer media and soccer fans like to think about all possibilities, we do have the ground ourselves in the possible. Without it, we’re just writing a novel that has as much to do with the world we live in today as any fantasy novel written by an able craftsperson would.

Maybe Brain gets healthy this offseason. Maybe she beats out Ertz, Mewis, and Horan and works her way back into the Starting XI for the USWNT. Maybe in 2019 she’s the best midfielder on the team and in the world. Wouldn’t that be great? It would be. But right now there are so many “what ifs” attached to it that it’s a murky future at best.

This trickles to players who will almost certainly be on the roster for 2019 and likely will still be starting. It isn’t reserved just for players hurt or past their prime.

Becky Sauerbrunn, the overworked captain, isn’t in 2017 what she was in 2015. Is she still the best centerback in the USWNT pool? Yes, I believe she is. But is she invincible? No. She has lost a little spark as of late which we can only hope she finds after some rest and time off. But fooling ourselves that she will be 2015 Sauerbrunn forever doesn’t change the basic facts. It just keeps our heads in the past and makes our pain more certain when things don’t work out that way.

Honoring the deeds done by players while still accepting who they are now has to become something we are okay with doing.

What Does Letting Go of 2015 Mean?

It’s hard to let go of 2015. Of the defense that was such a strong unit. Of the style of attacking that was so of its moment but ended up winning the day with one of the most magnificent performances we’ve ever seen. Of the players whose names we wear so proudly on our backs.

But moving on is needed to be able to understand the team as they are now. Comparing Naeher to Solo at every turn does nothing but lead to frustration. Comparing her to the players of now, Harris and Campbell, is going to at least keep us focused on the moment.

It’s okay to miss the players and the moments that are important to us. Going back and watching games is something we all do. It’s natural to want to feel a little tingle of that glory again. But wishing players back and pretending that we can’t see the writing on the wall does nothing but lead to anger and frustration, for everyone.

The team of 2017 has faults and flaws and needs improvement in areas that I’m not sure we’ll see in time to save their hopes for a fourth star in France. But wishing the 2015 team was in its place? Pretending like they can ride back in and save the day? That way madness lies. Madness and heartbreak. 

Andonovski to Seattle, Harvey to U.S. Soccer

Posted on by RJ Allen

It has been confirmed that FC Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski has been hired by Seattle Reign FC for the 2018 season, replacing longtime coach Laura Harvey.

Andonovski, who was with Kansas City since 2013, led the team to two NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. His contract with the team expired at the end of the 2017 season. He leaves the club with a 47-37-25 overall record.

“We thank Vlatko for all he has done for this club and we wish him the best of luck in the future,” said FC Kansas City owner Elam Baer.

There is no news of a replacement for Andonovski at this time.

Harvey, who had been with Seattle Reign FC since the inaugural NWSL season in 2013, will be taking a yet-undisclosed expanded role within the U.S. Women’s National Team. She leaves Reign FC with a 51-33-26 overall record, with two NWSL Shield wins in 2014 and 2015 and two NWSL Finals appearances in 2014 and 2015.

“I am deeply appreciative of all Laura gave to our organization over the past five years. She is a brilliant coach, but more importantly, she is a tremendous individual — there is nobody I would have rather worked with to build the club. Laura’s impact will be felt long after she departs, as she helped establish the enduring values that define what it means to be a part of our organization.” said Reign FC owner Bill Predmore.

Harvey had this to say:

BFFs: 5 Reason the NWSL and the W-League are a Match Made in Heaven

Posted on by RJ Allen

I made it less than a week. Less than a week without women’s soccer before I caved. We finished the NWSL season, the U.S. had the Korea Republic friendlies, and then I only made it five days before I sat in front of my computer screen at five in the morning and ordered my monthly subscription for the Australian Westfield W-League. And let me tell you, it was possibly one of the best decisions I’ve made all year. After watching only four minutes of the Perth Glory/Melbourne City match I knew that this was something that every NWSL fan needs in their life. The offseason feels long and ominous? Don’t worry, because it’s not the offseason at all! The NWSL may be gone, but it’s got a perfect partner on the other side of the world. If these leagues were on Tinder they would both be swiping right. Because they fit. And they need each other. And together they help promote women’s soccer even more. So yeah, I ship this pair, and you should too. But in case you need more persuading, here’s five reasons why they work so well together:

Opposite Schedules

The NWSL and the W-League are like the sun and the moon. They are never out at the same time, but we need them both here on earth. No one wants to wait for another match to watch, and they certainly don’t want to wait six months. Luckily, this pairing keeps us safe from that danger.  The NWSL season runs from April to mid October. And then the W-League runs from late October through February, which is just in time for players to have a short break and return to NWSL preseason camps once again. It’s a virtuous and amazing cycle that leaves the players in both leagues constantly playing and the fans (and opposite league and club management) constantly paying attention to what is happening around the soccer world.

Show Me The Young Guns

The W-League offers an amazing opportunity to NWSL and other international players of all ages, but it’s the young players who seem to benefit the most. This may be because most young players are not bogged down by National Team camps. That means they don’t have to worry about the daunting task of a 22-hour flight home to go play for their country. They get to keep a schedule, mesh with their teammates, and see the different style of play that Australia brings to the table. It also gives these young players more experience, which will only benefit them more when they return to the NWSL after their W-League season is over. But it’s not just a place for young players. It also features some serious talent, from Jess Fishlock to Sam Kerr to the majority of the Australian National Team. So yes, Ashley Hatch, current NWSL Rookie of the Year, may be hanging out in Melbourne to get more experience, but she is also facing some of the fiercest competition of her life…and playing on a team whose roster looks like it belongs at an all-star game.

Exposure For Aussies

Probably the best thing about the W-League being promoted so much is the exposure it brings for Australian players. Because it isn’t just the fans who are paying attention, but every manager, coach, and club that has a player across the Pacific Ocean in the W-League. And it’s impossible to only watch NWSL assets when there is so much amazing Australian talent on display. I don’t know about you, but I could use another Sam Kerr, or Haley Raso, or Lydia Williams in the NWSL. After all, the Aussies are on fire lately, and their National Team is only getting better and better. And let’s face it, they are entertaining as hell to watch. So if them getting a bit more exposure means that I can see a few more of them play here in America for a couple months of the year, that’s great news for everyone. Heck, if they aren’t too proud to play for a maximum salary of 45k in the NWSL then I would take all of the Matildas that I could get. The more that people get to watch them, and the more that players get to play them, the better the game will become.

Keeping the Team Together (and apart)

Another great thing about the W-League is that we get to see some really great combinations of NWSL players still playing with familiar faces from back in the States. Take for example the Perth Glory. Somehow, Sam Kerr got to take both Nikki Stanton and Raquel Rodriguez with her from Sky Blue, and now they are on the verge of doing some amazing things in Perth. Don’t believe me? Believe Sam Kerr’s fourth minute goal assisted by Stanton in their opening match of the season. So, if you are a Sky Blue fan, you should be really excited to see what this trio brings back to New Jersey, and what kind of chemistry they continue to develop on the field while in Perth.

And there are also some fun arrangements in the other direction: not combinations that stick together but NWSL teammates who are now split apart. Look at the Chicago Red Stars. Arin Gilliland plays for the Newcastle Jets, while her Red Star teammates Alyssa Mautz, Danielle Colaprico, and Katie Naughton play for Adelaide United. Do you not think that they will play to each other’s strengths and weaknesses? I do. And I also think it will be a great match to watch on November 25.

Staying in Form

Perhaps the most important factor that benefits the players of both leagues is that playing in both the NWSL and the W-League allows players to stay in top physical form. No one is going to have to worry if a player shlubbed off their offseason workouts and didn’t stick to the greatest diet for a professional athlete. These players are hitting the field everyday and honing their skills even more. The only potential issue that both leagues need to worry about is whether a player will get injured while playing in the other. And this makes that rest period in between leagues crucial. It also means that these players need to really listen to their bodies when they are telling them something is wrong. It’s safer to rest than to push through and cause a bigger injury that could affect their playing status in both leagues.

Perhaps the only downside of following the Westfield W-League from the United States is the time difference. Because of my work schedule I think nothing of watching a match at four in the morning, but I know that is not the norm. Still, the streaming packages from OZ are a great deal – $2.99 per match, or $4.99 per month for all the matches. I went monthly, and I would recommend that if you want to at least watch one match per week. And at least one match is on at an appropriate time to view…well, 7 a.m. isn’t that bad. Still, for anyone looking to get their WoSo fix, I would highly recommend the W-League. It is the natural fit and progression from the NWSL and you are going to be cheering for a lot of the same players that you were just last month. So check it out. It’s time to watch the amazing skill and entertainment Australia has to offer. And hopefully, when it is the NWSL’s turn to return the favor, we can do so with a few more Aussies here in America, and an even tighter bond between the two leagues.

Is 7 the Number to Make the NWSL Playoffs Magical?

Posted on by RJ Allen

The 2017 NWSL playoffs were fine.

They were fine.

The three games we saw were sometimes boring, occasionally exciting, often brutal matches between 4 teams who all managed to keep themselves above the other 6 teams in the league at the end of a 24 game season.

Some people have called for the NWSL to eliminate playoffs all together and crown the Shield winner the season champion. Some have offered the idea of a home and away match in the semis and a single game in the final. Still others think the current set up is what should be used going forward.

I humbly bring forward another option to satisfy both the desire to see the playoffs and the need to separate the Shield winner from the second place team in terms of benefits from winning the regular season.

The NWSL should have 7 teams make the playoffs.

The format I would put forward is as follows.

Round 1

Game 1 – Team 2 plays Team 7

Game 2 – Team 3 plays team 6

Game 3 – Team 4 plays team 5

Round 2

Game 4: Team 1 plays winner of Game 3

Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2

Round 3

Championship: Winner of Game 4 vs Winner Game 5

So in 2017 it would have looked like this,

Round 1

Game 1 – Portland vs FCKC @ Portland

Game 2 – Orlando vs Sky Blue @ Orlando

Game 3 – Chicago vs Seattle @ Chicago

Round 2

Game 4: North Carolina vs (Chicago vs Seattle) @ NCC

Game 5: (Portland vs FCKC) vs (Orlando vs Sky Blue) @ Higher seed

Round 3

Championship: Winner of Game 4 vs Winner Game 5 @ Predetermined

Now before you call me insane, and I am sure many of you will after you read this anyway, let me explain why in a 10 team league I think there should be a 7 team playoff hunt.

1. It gives the Shield winner a first round bye.

2. Gives more teams a chance to host a playoff game, gives more fans a chance to attend and helps fans who might not make it to the final make it to a playoff game.

3. Prevents the league from ever having a truly horrific playoff in terms of markets. 

Make the Shield Mean Something

The NWSL shield is less than meaningless right now. Every team that has won the shield, no matter how dominant going into the playoffs, has fallen before grabbing the NWSL championship. Talk of the Curse of the Shield is treated like a fact and not something due to possible small sample size and better teams finishing lower on the table.

Giving the Shield winner both a week to recover from a 20 plus game season and an automatic trip to the second round of the playoffs would be a worthy reward for being the best team of the regular season. We saw the North Carolina Courage have a week turn around from losing Debinha in a meaningless, for them, end of the season match against the Orlando Pride to barely slipping past the Chicago Red Stars largely in part of having so little time to change their game place.

Shouldn’t the number one team in the league, if we have a playoff system, have more time than everyone else to rest, adjust and prepare? Outside of having no playoff it might be the best we can offer them.

More Games, More Fans, More Marketing

The NWSL has upped it’s marketing game in 2017. The Lifetime deal and the money it brought in have surely helped. But that doesn’t mean that all of the marketing woes of the NWSL were fixed with a pen stroke.

An additional round of games helps the NWSL’s marketing department in a few ways.

First there are more games so more of a chance to market the playoffs both on line and during the extra games. Three more games and an extra week of postseason gives the league more of a shot to market meaningful games during the season and to reach the biggest markets in the league. If you look at this year and the matchups that would appear in the first round; Portland vs FCKC, Orlando vs Sky Blue and Chicago vs Seattle, all the match ups would be held in great places to play, and they would involve teams that people would watch even if their team wasn’t playing. Both because they would watch each playoff game and because their team might face one of the winner next.

Second more teams get to host playoff games and more teams are involved during the playoffs. Believing your team has a shot to make the playoffs is what drives a lot of fan’s excitement for the playoffs. Knowing that even if you have to go up against the second ranked team in the league as the seventh ranked team, you still get a chance. You still have hope that maybe, just maybe, any given Sunday can happen this time. In a league that needs major matchups and excitement to help bring in the casual fans it keeps trying to go after, this could be a huge win for the league.

What Happens if the Big Teams Fall?

What happens in a practical way if we have an NWSL playoff with FCKC, where they are currently located, Sky Blue FC, the Washington Spirit and the Boston Breakers? No Portland. No Seattle. No Orlando or Chicago.

As laughable as it sounds right now there is a chance one day this happens and happens before any of those teams have the location to host an NWSL semi that is ready for Lifetime or the number of fans that would want to attend. The teams would either have to work to make their current locations work or maybe more likely host the game from a new location. A location that makes hosting that play off game a down step from the home field advantage you would have had.

On top of that in a ratings driven world, how does the NWSL and Lifetime market games that likely would bring in much lower numbers than the 147,000 that watched the 2017 NWSL final? Maybe they get 80,000 or 90,000 from fans loyal enough to watch because it’s the playoffs and these teams were good enough to make the playoffs. But it still would be a bad year and cost the league and Lifetime.

An expanded pool does mean one, maybe two, games over the course of the playoffs might not be held at the best locations. But it does lessen the chances all the teams in the playoffs have locations that aren’t ideal.

 

The system I’m putting forward isn’t perfect.

There will be some who say it’s just too many teams playing the playoffs. I get that. But I think saying it would make the regular season meaningless is an overstatement. It would mean what it does now, seeding. Seeding is key because the difference between seventh and fifth could be a tie breaker to go play the second best in the league or the forth. 

With an extra round it could be said it puts the league at the greatest risk of having a good team go home early. But that has happened already in the NWSL playoffs and will always be a risk in any playoffs. 

There will be some who say that the Shield winner should be the only winner, but to them I would say Americans would hardly be satisfied with a system that gives them a league with no championship game. They can adapt to a lot but we love championships. 

And there will be some who say the home and away for the semis, or even the final, is a better fix. They might be right but we can still get the FCKC, Sky Blue FC, the Washington Spirit and the Boston Breakers playoff I spoke about and all the problems that comes with that. 

All and all I say if we’re going to have a playoff, why not go all in on the type of playoff that would be engaging, exciting and show the world the hardest league in the world to get a title in is the NWSL? 

The High Five: A New Idea For The NWSL Postseason

Posted on by RJ Allen

Everyone loves a good story. It’s what compels us to sit up and listen or watch. But the NWSL failed to do that this postseason. And part of that is the fact that they are a young league, but the other part of that is because their playoff structure is so simple that it is boring. Top four teams. Three games. Two weeks. Blah.

So why not spice it up a bit? Draw things out a tad bit longer, but get more action in as well? The league shouldn’t make too many changes, because it is young and it doesn’t want to bite off more than it can chew. That’s how leagues fold, and no one wants that. But I would like to put forth the argument that the NWSL hasn’t bitten off enough. They can do better when it comes to the postseason. Here’s what I would suggest:

The top five teams go beyond the regular season. The forth and fifth ranked teams play a mid-week wildcard game immediately following the end of the season. The winner of that game plays the number one ranked team on the weekend, while the second and third ranked teams play each other. Then, the winners of those matches play a best of 9 points Final (potential three game series) the following week. Here’s how it would have looked on a timeline for this season:

– Sunday, Oct. 1: End of Regular Season

– Wednesday, Oct. 4: Wildcard game – Chicago(4) v. Seattle(5) in Chicago

– Saturday, Oct. 7: Semifinals – Portland(2) v. Orlando(3) in Portland

– Sunday, Oct. 8: Semifinals – NC(1) v. Wildcard Winner in NC.

– Saturday, Oct. 14: Finals Game 1 at higher ranked teams’ field

– Wednesday Oct. 18: Finals Game 2 at lower ranked teams’ field

– Sunday Oct. 22: Finals Game 3 at higher ranked teams’ field (if needed based on points accumulated)

So yeah, this looks a bit strange. I’ll admit it. But this structure brings a few really great things to the table. It creates a sense or urgency, it takes fan bases into account, and it extends out the postseason just enough to craft some really interesting story lines. Here’s how:

Sense of Urgency

Major League Baseball added the wildcard games in 2012 as a way to extend the postseason, get more fan participation, and gross more money. And since then it has turned into this mentality of ‘win and we’re in’ and ‘do-or-die.’ And as the New York Yankees can attest this year, it has created a lot of fun not just for the players but for the fans as well. It urges the fans to attend, because their team is just on the cusp of making the playoffs. And in this scenario, if you are that fifth seeded team, you are riding that underdog mentality. Everything comes down to 90 minutes. And sure, we have that with the current setup going straight to the semifinals, but what if there was this game in between where players are playing on short rest and the emotions are heightened because of that? What if Seattle pulled off the upset? Could they have gone on and beat North Carolina? I bet Laura Harvey would believe that they could. But the sense of urgency in this structure isn’t just limited to the wildcard game.

The Finals set up as a potential three game series with a best of nine points can absolutely create a phenomenal and urgent game two. Because imagine that your team is going into game two with no points – you couldn’t even pull out a draw in the last match. This match, you need at least a draw to advance to the third game. If not, your season is done, but there was potentially something left on the table – there was a third game…and all you needed was a tie. Because of this, the style of play could change. And the tactic of home field advantage could come into play more. It might be better to play conservatively than risk losing it all if you could have another 90 minutes in a few more days to make it work better and win off of a goal differential. It also might mean you get to go home to your own fans too.

Root For The Home Team

Something that I hate to see: a league final not sell out. What did I see this year? A half-packed Orlando City Stadium. And yes, it was nicely advertised. But there is absolutely no reason that a random Orlando tourist could just walk up to the ticket box ten minutes before kickoff and be able to watch a Championship. That is just plain unacceptable. And we can’t blame North Carolina or Portland fans for not having a larger turnout. That is a long way to travel, especially for Portland, and on short notice.

But if we had a potential three game series that moved between the two teams’ home fields then you have a better chance of selling out the stadium. You have a better atmosphere for the players and for the fans watching at home. Which means the NWSL sells more tickets, and more merchandise, and there is a greater impact on the league as a whole.

It also provides the two teams an edge going into their home game for the Final, because no matter what, they will at least play one match at home. And any player would rather play home than away – that’s obvious. But there are also those players that love to silence the stands. And this structure plays to their strengths as well.

Give It Time To Craft A Story

I started this article by saying that the NWSL playoffs didn’t tell a good story this year, and they didn’t. The most exciting game there was with regards to gamesmanship, social media, and overall hype was the Orlando/Portland match, but that wasn’t because of the NWSL. That was because Portland said they wouldn’t mind visiting Epcot, and Orlando put a Pride scarf on a rather important log. To be fair, the NWSL tried to make the games seem more intense than they were with their pregame videos about each team and what it would mean to them moving forward, and it made me fall asleep. Every team wants to win a Championship, so let’s make the journey a little more grueling, a little more fun, and a little more unpredictable.

With the five team structure so many great stories could be crafted from it, and every team’s story could build upon the last match that was played. Take the fifth ranked Wildcard team. Let’s say they survive and move to the Semifinals. Then they have to play the number one ranked team. They have to become a giant slayer. And to top it all off, they have to play at the number one ranked team’s home field. But somehow they pull it off. Their fans are going crazy and the story line keeps getting deeper because now they are going to a best of three series. And even if they drop the first match, they are going home to their fans to get a little bit more momentum to maybe give them that final push to make it to game three. And of course they do. And now you have the team that no one thought could make it anywhere playing in a 90 minute duel to the death. They know they are the David to the other team’s Goliath, but they still believe. Do you?

Yeah, that would be a story, wouldn’t it? You might tune in for that one, even if you aren’t a fan of that team.

So that’s my pitch. That is what I would like to watch unfold before me. Five teams. One Wildcard game. Two semifinal matches. And a Finals Series. So, I guess at the end of the day that just translates to me being a simple kind of sports fan. Because all I really want is just a packed house, a chance to watch a little more of the sport I love, and a good story that demands my attention. The question is, does the NWSL?

A New Take: Backline Soccer’s Focus in 2018

Posted on by RJ Allen

2017 was a a crazy ride. We grew as a site and as people covering women’s soccer, we said goodbye to some and welcomed in others.

And we learned a lot about what we liked to do and what didn’t work as well for us.

So we’ve made some adjustments and going forward we’re going to focus our energy in what we hope are the most useful ways to make the biggest and best impact.

So that leads to the question of what will be focusing on going forward?

We’re going to focus on two different areas: a mix of breaking news, weekly series and long form writing, and a trio of podcasts to help fill in content, because podcasting is something we as a site enjoy partaking in. And of course our photos aren’t going anywhere. 

Podcasting

Let’s talk about podcasting.

Podcasting is my personal favorite form of communication when it comes to women’s soccer and something the site as a whole is dedicated to.

Coming in 2018 we will have three different shows. Yes, three.

The Scouting Report

We will have an updated version of The Scouting Report. There, myself and my co-hosts Becca Kimble and Lindsay Schwarz will recap of all of the NWSL or USWNT action from the past week along with delusions and weekly awards. We’ve moved to a prerecorded format to make it easier for us to have longer conversations and to plan out some aspects of the show.

The 123rd Minute

Both Charles Onley and I will be back with 123rd Minute. There is where we take an in depth look at the issues around women’s soccer, from “who should be in the hall of fame” to “do goalkeepers matter.” This is a long form piece in podcast form. We sometimes have great guests on as well.

TSR Quick Kicks

And if two podcasts weren’t enough, I am happy to announce TSR Quick Kicks. It will be a live show on YouTube with Luis Hernandez and me talking about that week’s women’s soccer news, and then doing a Q and A. The news portion will be put up on YouTube for a quick 20 or 30 minute guide to the news that you can play on your way to work or while making dinner.

Written Pieces

On the writing side we’re aiming in three directions.

The first focus will be on breaking news, with rosters moves being the biggest area. As much as we wish we could have a staff of 5 or 6 writing up each bit of news, we don’t have the staff for that. We’ll try to get everyone up on our Twitter feed, but the major pieces will be written up to give important updates on things like USWNT rosters, NWSL roster moves and updates on players and teams.

Next up is the weekly pieces that we all know and love. These weekly columns from the different writers on the site are key for us and we want to make sure that we put a focus on making them part of your weekly women’s soccer habit.

The third area is our long form opinion pieces and interviews, covering things that aren’t in the breaking news or weekly pieces arena that take an in depth look at the teams and players of women’s soccer. We are looking to write more series with multiple writers like we did in “Why We Can’t Stick to Sports” earlier in the year. We’re hoping to bring a more thoughtful feel to our coverage in this area. 

There are some things we won’t be doing next year that we did this year.

Gone are the days of us live tweeting games from the main Backline Soccer Twitter account. Now we will highlight which of our writers are live tweeting so you can follow along with the writer of your choice and we won’t clutter up your feed.

We will keep our previews and recaps of games to The Scouting Report outside of playoff games for the NWSL and important USWNT games. There are a lot of sites that do previews and recaps and we feel TSR does a pretty great job doing it themselves.

We hope all of you have a relaxing off season and here is to a great 2018 for us all. 

Ellis Names Roster For Canada Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

Jill Ellis has named 23 players to the roster for two friendlies between the U.S. Women’s National Team and the Canadian Women’s National Team to close out 2017.

Tobin Heath and Taylor Smith both return to the roster after missing the September friendlies due to injuries suffered in the NWSL final. 

Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), and Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars) were all unavailable for selection due to injuries.  Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC) was not released by her club, which is playing Round of 16 Champions League matches on November 8 and 15.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Sofia Huerta (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Taylor Smith (NC Courage), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC), Chioma Ubogagu (Orlando Pride)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)

FORWARDS (5): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)

NWSL Teams Announce End-of-Season Roster And Contract Updates

Posted on by RJ Allen

All ten National Women’s Soccer League teams have announced their roster and contract updates following the 2017 NWSL season.

Here are the updated rosters:

Boston Breakers

Contract Option Exercised: Abby Smith, Sammy Jo Prudhomme, Megan Oyster, Julie King, Amanda Frisbie, Rosie White, Morgan Andrews, Adriana Leon, Natasha Dowie, Ifeoma Onumonu, Margaret Purce, Hayley Dowd

New Contract Offered: Brooke Elby, Christen Westphal, Angela Salem. Tiffany Weimer, Katie Stengel

Federation Players: Allysha Chapman, Rose Lavelle

Chicago Red Stars

Contract Option Exercised: Danielle Colaprico, Taylor Comeau, Michele Dalton, Arin Gilliland, Sarah Gorden, Summer Green, Jen Hoy, Sofia Huerta, Samantha Johnson. Lauren Kaskie, Alyssa Mautz, Stephanie McCaffrey, Yuki Nagasato, Katie Naughton

New Contract Offered: Vanessa DiBernardo

Federation Players: Morgan Brian, Julie Ertz, Christen Press, Casey Short

FC Kansas City

Contract Option Exercised: Yael Averbuch, Christina Gibbons, Sydney Miramontez, Caroline Flynn, Mandy Laddish, Shea Groom, Maegan Kelly, Brittany Ratcliffe

New Contract Offered: Alex Arlitt, Becca Moros, Brittany Kolmel (nee Taylor), Katie Bowen. Lo’eau LaBonta, Alexa Newfield, Erika Tymrak, Nicole Barnhart, Cat Parkhill

Federation Players: Desiree Scott, Amy Rodriguez, Sydney Leroux, Becky Sauerbrunn

Houston Dash

Contract Option Exercised: Bruna Benites, Jane Campbell, Meghan Cox, Claire Falknor, Andressinha, Kristie Mewis, Janine Van Wyk

New Contract Offered: Poliana Barbosa, Amber Brooks, Rachel Daly, Sarah Hagen, Caity Heap, Bianca Henninger, Cami Levin, Kealia Ohai, Cami Privett, Cari Roccaro

Federation Players: Janine Beckie, Carli Lloyd, Nichelle Prince

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: Kelly Conheeney

North Carolina Courage

Contract Option Exercised: Abby Dahlkemper, Debinha, Elizabeth Eddy, Abby Erceg, Kristen Hamilton, Ashley Hatch, Jaelene Hinkle, Jessica McDonald, Katelyn Rowland, Taylor Smith, Darian Jenkins. Yuri Kawamura

New Contract Offered: Makenzy Doniak, Denise O’Sullivan, Meredith Speck, Sam Witteman, McCall Zerboni

Federation Players: Sabrina D’Angelo, Samantha Mewis, Lynn Williams

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: Stephanie Ochs

Retirement: Nora Holstad

Orlando Pride

Contract Option Exercised: Aubrey Bledsoe, Camila, Nickolette Driesse, Kristen Edmonds, Danica Evans, Jamia Fields, Rachel Hill, Monica, Toni Pressley, Jasmyne Spencer

New Contract Offered: Stephanie Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Chioma Ubogagu, Dani Weatherholt

Federation Players: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: McKenzie Berryhill, Jocelyn Blankenship, Jordan O’Brien

Under Contract: Marta

Portland Thorns FC

Contract Option Exercised: Ashleigh Sykes, Tyler Lussi, Savannah Jordan, Emily Menges

New Contract Offered: Adrianna Franch, Britt Eckerstrom, Katherine Reynolds, Celeste Boureille, Dagny Brynjardottir, Meg Morris, Hayley Raso, Mallory Weber

Federation Players: Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath, Allie Long, Meghan Klingenberg, Emily Sonnett

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: Kendall Johnson

Leaving the Club: Amandine Henry (Olympique Lyon), Nadia Nadim (Manchester City)

Seattle Reign FC

Contract Option Exercised: Haley Kopmeyer. Maddie Bauer. Rachel Corsie, Merritt Mathias, Kristen McNabb, Rebekah Stott, Christine Nairn, Larissa Crummer, Kiersten Dallstream, Katie Johnson, Beverly Yanez

New Contract Offered: Lauren Barnes, Carson Pickett, Jessica Fishlock, Rumi Utsugi, Nahomi Kawasumi, Lydia Williams

Federation Players: Megan Rapinoe, Diana Matheson

Retirement: Elli Reed, Madalyn Schiffel

Sky Blue FC

Contract Option Exercised: Cassidy Benitente, Mandy Freeman, Kayla Mills, Christie Pearce, Daphne Corboz, Sarah Killion, Madison Tiernan, Sam Kerr, McKenzie Meehan

New Contract Offered: Caroline Casey, Domi Richardson, Erin Simon, Erica Skroski, Taylor Lytle, Raquel Rodriguez, Nikki Stanton, Leah Galton, Maya Hayes

Federation Players: Kailen Sheridan, Kelley O’Hara

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: Tasha Kai

Washington Spirit

Contract Option Exercised: Yanara Aedo, Lindsay Agnew, Cali Farquharson, Francisca Ordega, Arielle Ship, Cheyna Williams, Estefania Banini, Meggie Dougherty Howard, Tori Huster, Joanna Lohman, Morgan Proffitt, Havana Solaun, Whitney Church, Caprice Dydasco, Estelle Johnson, Alyssa Kleiner, DiDi Haracic

New Contract Offered: Kassey Kallman, Kelsey Wys

Federation Players: Mallory Pugh, Stephanie Labbe, Shelina Zadorsky

Placed on Re-Entry Wire: Line Sigvardsen Jensen

Route Two Soccer: 3 Winners and 2 Losers from the NWSL Final

Posted on by RJ Allen

Winner: Portland, for getting the job done

The Thorns showed up with a chip on their shoulder, ready to complete the ‘unfinished business’ of last season. It’s strange to say for a team that has now won either the league title or the shield in three out of the league’s five seasons, but Portland has felt like an underachiever. With the talent at their disposal, not to mention the infrastructure and institutional support, anything less than a title this year would have felt like a disappointment. Beyond that, it’s important to remember that Portland started this season poorly, and still looked to be struggling well into the summer. There was talk about ‘too many stars, not enough teamwork’ and questions about whether they would ever actually put it all together.

Well, they put it together. Following a loss on July 1, Portland went on a run in which they won 11 of 13 games, including the semifinal and final. They integrated their stars as they returned from the Euros and injury, settled into a flexible tactical system, and started to look as good as they always expected to be.

In a league without all that much tactical innovation, coach Mark Parsons’ back three was a breath of fresh air, and helped to revitalize their attack without doing anything to weaken their stout defense. Dropping Christine Sinclair back behind the forwards was another critical innovation, allowing her to orchestrate the attack from a deeper position, and then crash in behind to pick up second balls and knockdowns.

Portland didn’t have anything close to their best game of the year in the final, but it was enough to get the job done. They played a composed, compact, and stultifying game—conceding plenty of marginal chances but stifling the big ones. It wasn’t pretty, but no one in Portland will care much about that.

Loser: The beautiful game

All three of the games between these two teams this season were tight affairs, but this one took things to a different level. That’s not surprising, necessarily, since cup finals often end up being some of the least exciting games of an entire campaign. When the stakes are this high, teams play conservatively, looking to avoid mistakes, and the quality of play often suffers. This game was no exception.

In their postgame press conferences, both coaches specifically used the word “battle” to describe the game, and neither seemed to be using the term metaphorically. It was a tense and brutal affair, a grim and physical game, without much to recommend it in the way of skill or tactical quality.

Portland deserves special credit (or blame, depending on your perspective), making it clear from the first minute that they would match North Carolina’s aggressive style directly. This preemptive physicality ensured a choppy and violent game, with tight marking and aggressive tackling making it very difficult for either side to develop any rhythm.

To the extent that there was any real ‘beauty’ in the game, it came on the defensive side of things. In particular, North Carolina deserves credit here, for the way that their players moved as a unit. The interactions between the central defense and central midfield, in particular, were lovely. As Dahlkemper tracked a runner, Mewis would drop in behind to take her spot. As Erceg drifted out wide to fill in the gap left by an attacking fullback, Dahlkemper stepped left and Zerboni drifted in to close down the angles exposed by those moves. It was lovely stuff.

But this was the exception more than the rule. On the whole, these teams came to shut each other down, and they mostly succeeded. That did plenty to raise the tension but didn’t do much for the lover of the beautiful game.

Loser: Danielle Chesky, for calling a truly terrible game

As noted, this was a physical and violent game, and ultimately that comes from the teams who chose to play that way. But the final guilt has to rest with the referee, who allowed it all to unfold. While she got some hold back on the game in the second half, the first 45 minutes were a nightmare of escalating violence. I have written before about the problems with loose officiating in this league. And it would be hard to find a more representative example than this game.

There’s an unwritten code for referees: lighter punishments for star players, no cards early in the game, don’t make yourself the focus. Those all came together in this game, in the opening three minutes, when Tobin Heath barged into Taylor Smith from behind, dislocating her shoulder. It was about as clear a yellow card as you’ll ever see, but received only a warning. And things only escalated from there. In the opening half hour, there were at least half a dozen awful challenges, and dozens more examples of rough play. And Chesky still hadn’t seen a single foul that she judged worthy of a booking.

By the 39th minute, North Carolina was forced to make their second injury-based substitution, and the game had gone completely off the rails.

She eventually discovered the cards in her pocket and showed a couple to Portland players before the end of the half. And by the second half, with control at least marginally re-asserted, things started to look more like a soccer match and less like a game of rugby. But even with those improvements, the damage was mostly done.

The players deserve a referee who will punish dangerous play. The fans deserve a referee who will call fouls accurately. “Letting the players decide the game” is a canard, and you only need to watch this match to see why. By letting violent play go unpunished, Chesky didn’t stay out of the limelight; she made herself the story, to the detriment of the game that everyone was hoping to see.

Winner: The NWSL, for turning the corner

The NWSL suffers under the weight of history. Previous women’s soccer leagues have generated far greater fanfare, bigger audiences, more excitement, only to fold after three years. This league has survived, but sometimes has seemed to achieve this success at the expense of intensity or excitement. It can feel like the unloved stepchild of the US Women’s National Team, a training ground to keep them fresh but not something to generate much passion.

But, increasingly, that narrative is falling apart. Sure, some of the old guard clearly didn’t value the league, and maybe some of the current stars don’t treat it entirely seriously. But you only have to look at the passion and commitment and intensity of the players in this match to see how much it matters.

For the young stars of US soccer—players like Sam Mewis, Abby Dahlkemper, Lindsey Horan, and Lynn Williams—the NWSL has always been a part of the landscape. To them, this is the pinnacle of their professional achievement, and there is absolutely nothing second rate about it. They care. They care a whole lot.

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I talked to Sam Mewis in the mix zone after the game, and she had the demeanor of someone who had just lost the World Cup final. The intensity, the passion, the commitment that she feels about the national team…it is all there in precisely the same degree for this league.

And that is a great thing.

Winner: Orlando, for doing a great job hosting

There has been a lot of discussion in the past week about future NWSL finals. Should the league return to a system of allowing the top seed to host, or persist with the predetermined venue? There are fair arguments on both sides (and decent arguments for going an entirely different third direction), but one huge advantage of a preset location is the opportunity for the league and media to plan ahead of time, and to showcase the nicest venues on offer.

This is not a knock on North Carolina, who I’m sure would also have done a great job hosting. But Orlando gave us a fantastic experience, and deserve some recognition for the work they put in. It’s my favorite stadium experience of any in the league, with a beautiful pitch and a wonderful design. The accommodations for the media day on Friday were stupendous, the press facilities were excellent, and the staff went above and beyond the call of duty to give us a great experience.

While the overall attendance numbers were less than ideal, the pre-set location gave a lot the league’s superfans a chance to attend. And in many ways, that’s more important than the simple topline number. Making it easier for those who care the most to make the pilgrimage should be a big priority. The NWSL final should be an Event—and Orlando did it’s best to help that process along.

Shoutouts are also deserved for Jen Cooper, who put on a great WoSoCo, and for the supporters groups of teams all around the league who made the journey and showed up strong. And an extra special mention goes to the Riveters, who flew 3000 miles to support their team, and helped bring the intensity and excitement that this game and this league deserves.

The Unknown International: Denise O’Sullivan

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL may be the American soccer league, but many of its most talented players come from all over the world. This series takes a look at the best internationals in the NWSL, analyzing their role and impact on their national team and their NWSL club, as well as their overall style of play. This week, we will be looking at North Carolina Courage and Irish midfielder, Denise O’Sullivan.

Who Is She?

If you’re reading this article, there is a good chance that you recognize O’Sullivan’s name from her game-winning goal in the NWSL Semifinal match against the Chicago Red Stars. Denise O’Sullivan is a 23-year-old midfielder from Cork, Ireland. She is a versatile midfielder, who can be strong both on the attack and in the defense. Thus, her role on each of her teams has varied depending on where she was needed.

She played youth soccer in Ireland and made her senior debut in 2011 for Peamount United. After their exit in the 2011-2012 UEFA Women’s Champions League, O’Sullivan returned to her hometown of Cork and joined their newly formed professional women’s club, Cork City Women. After two years, another opportunity came knocking at her door — to join Glasgow City Women, one of the premier teams in Europe. O’Sullivan joined the team in 2013 and scored 33 goals in 65 appearances with the club. But in March 2016, O’Sullivan earned an opportunity to join the NWSL’s Houston Dash. She took advantage and joined them before the start of the 2016 season.

O’Sullivan spent the 2016 season and the start of the 2017 season with the Dash. In 2016, she started in 14 matches in 18 appearances and snagged two goals and three assists. But with a coaching change at the beginning of the 2017 season, O’Sullivan saw herself getting less and less playing time. She asked to leave the team, and a return to Europe seemed imminent, with offers from clubs in England and Germany. But in the end, O’Sullivan was picked up off waivers by the North Carolina Courage.

Irish National Team

O’Sullivan made her senior team debut for Ireland in 2011 and since she has garnered over 50 appearances for the Irish women. Ireland has been on the edges of qualification in Europe, narrowly missing the 2017 Women’s European Championship after having qualified in 2013. Similarly, they missed the 2015 Women’s World Cup, but they’re hoping to change that narrative in 2019.

They will face some tough competition in their qualifiers, having been drawn into a group including Norway, and the new European Champions, the Netherlands. But there are other problems that seem to be hindering the Irish women, like so many other women’s national teams around the world. In April 2017, they took a stand against what they deemed “gross inequality” in the Irish FA. They complained about basic things, like not having changing facilities and not having their own uniforms. The negotiations were tense, but in the end, the Irish women got what they wanted. There is still a long way to go on the path of equality, but they took a step in the right direction.

North Carolina Courage

O’Sullivan joined the North Carolina Courage during the 2017 season, after being picked up off waivers from the Houston Dash. O’Sullivan made 11 appearances with the Dash in 2017, earning one assist.

Playing in North Carolina, she was around some of the best midfielders in the world, including McCall Zerboni and Sam Mewis. But O’Sullivan wasn’t far behind, earning starts in both of the Courage’s 2017 postseason games. Her 90′ goal against the Chicago Red Stars sent her team to the championship. While her team wasn’t able to earn another trophy this year, O’Sullivan has proven that she is a different player in North Carolina than she was in Houston. It’s unsure what the offseason will bring for O’Sullivan and the Courage, but one thing is clear: despite being a late addition, O’Sullivan took her opportunity and made her moment in the spotlight count.